5th April 10.30 am: Community Action and Support group stall at Cobblers Last statue Abington St to advertise their activities and opposition against Bedroom Tax and work advice sessions. Anyone else interested is welcome to come along with material/placards etc opposed to the Bedroom Tax – but not paper sellers. Leaflets: Rights At Work, Bedroom Tax

Sunday 13th April Rd Rope Walk Holdenby : Moderate 5-6 mile walk from Holdenby with fine views. King Charles1 was held prisoner at Holdenby House at the end of the English Civil War in some luxury and with 400 servants! If you are interested in joining these walks or want to know more ring 01604 702632 or go to http://northampton-redrope-walking-group.org.uk

Monday 14th April: Northampton Trades Council meeting. Details tbc.

Saturday 26th April a free Multicultural Festival will take over the Market Square in Northampton. A one day celebration of all the different cultures that make Northampton such a vibrant town. There will be live music, performance, dancing and singing and a wide range of food and craft stalls. The action then shifts to the Deco Theatre for an evening of music, fashion and performance in aid of the Mayor’s Charity the Sharing

and Caring Trust. Tickets are only £10 and that includes a free buffet. Tickets are available from me here at NVC or by contacting Zimwomen at zimwomennorthampton@ymail.com

Monday 28 April Reclaim Our NHS at 7pm at the Old Black Lion. Anyone who wishes to read a short report of the last meeting, who hasn’t seen it yet, please contact Ron Mendel who can forward it.

Monday 31st March 2014 5.30pm to 7.30pm The Better Care Fund Workshop. Kettering Conference Centre Thurston Drive, Kettering NN15 6PB. An opportunity to find out about the Better Care Fund and what it means to the people of Northamptonshire. The speaker will be

Jo Apea – Health Partnerships Programme Leader at Northamptonshire County Council. Come along and have your say. If you would like to attend please contact:- Healthwatch Northamptonshire On 01604 893636 and enquiries@healthwatchnorthamptonshire.co

because of the clash with the EDL event which is happening this Saturday (see below). The NHS event is really important – flash mobs need to be BIG! Please come along when new details are announced. The current details are to meet at All Saints Church at the bottom of the Drapery at midday for a 1pm start. There

will be a big blue coffin to represent the demise of the NHS. Participants are encouraged to dress up as patients, doctors and nurses and to bring placards! Keep an eye on the Reclaim Facebook page for more details: https://www.facebook.com/NorthamptonReclaimOurNHS

The English Defence League is holding an event this Saturday as follows (lifted from their website): Meet from 10.30 hours at the East-Gate 98-102 Abington Street Northampton NN1 2BP The parade will leave at 11.45 hours and head to all saints church, where flowers will be laid at the war memorial. A minutes silence will take place at 12.00 hour,. and then return to the starting point. NO CHANTING OR SINGING. This is a public event and anyone is welcome to join. I have been requested remove the details of the meeting organised to consider how to respond to this event, so apologies to those who are looking for them.

Trades Council is at 7.15 pm on Monday 3rd June at University of Northampton Park Campus Cottesbrooke 107. The main business of the meeting will be to plan events around the visit of the TUC Anti-Austerity Bus on 25th June. Community groups who wish to get involved are welcome to send a representative – please let Ron and/or Pat know if you propose to do so. Please could all TC delegates make an effort to attend.